Imam Muhammad b. Ali al-Jawad (a): Difference between revisions

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Because Imam al-Jawad was an 8 year old child, some Shi'a followed [['Abd Allah b. Musa]] and some others followed [[Waqifids]]. But most Shi'a accepted the [[imamate]] of Imam al-Jawad (a) due to his scientific superiority in spite of his age. At that time, due to restrictions made for Imam (a), his connections with Shi'a were mostly made through agents.

[[Al-Ma'mun al-Abbasi]] married her daughter, called [[Umm al-Fadl]], to Imam al-Jawad (a) in 202/817-18<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī'', vol. 7, p. 149.</ref> or 215/830-1.<ref>Masʿūdī, ''Ithbāt al-waṣīyya'', p. 223.</ref> This marriage took place following the request of al-Ma'mun and Imam (a) expressed his consent with this marriage after specifying the dowry similar to that of [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] (which was 500 Dirhams).<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 382.</ref> Some sources have said that during Imam al-Rida's (a) stay in [[Khorasan]], Imam al-Jawad (a) went to see him once<ref>Bayhaqī, ''Tārīkh-i Bayhaq'', p. 46.</ref> and that was when al-Ma'mun asked him to marry his daughter. According to [[Ibn Kathir]], the marriage contract of Imam al-Jawad (a) and al-Ma'mun's daughter was made at the time of Imam al-Rida (a) but the marriage ceremony was held in 215/830 in Tikrit, [[Iraq]].<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 10, p. 295.</ref> The marriage of Imam al-Jawad (a) with Umm al-Fadl was made by the request of al-Ma'mun.{{cn}} Al-Ma'amun said that he sought to be the grandfather of a child who was a progeny of the Prophet (a) and Imam Ali (a). Al-Shaykh al-Mufid considered that marriage because of al-Ma'mun's love for Imam al-Jawad (a). Some researchers believe that this marriage had political motives, including that al-Ma'mun wanted to control Imam al-Jawad (a) and his relations with Shi'a through that marriage; or to show himself interested in [[Alawis]] and prevent them from making uprising. This marriage caused the opposition of some of al-Ma'mun's agents, because they were afraid of transferring caliphate from [['Abbasids]] to 'Alawis.{{cn}}

 

There are many reports and proofs for Imamate of Imam al-Jawad (a) including the report that one of the [[List of the Companions of Imam al-Rida (a)|companions of Imam al-Rida (a)]] asked about his successor, and Imam al-Rida (a) pointed with his hand towards his son Abu Ja'far (Imam al-Jawad (a)) who was standing in front of him.<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 265.</ref>  

The issue of imamate in childhood was risen by some people at the time of Imam al-Rida (a), and he mentioned the prophet 'Isa (a) [Jesus] and said, "when 'Isa (a) was given prophethood his age was lower than my son".<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 1, p. 322.</ref> The issue was risen more seriously in after the martyrdom of Imam al-Rida (a) and even some of the close companions of Imam al-Rida (a), like [[Yunus b. 'Abd al-Rahman]], doubted about the imamate of Imam al-Jawad (a).<ref>Masʿūdī, ''Ithbāt al-waṣīyya'', p. 220</ref> Later the same issue was risen about the imamate of [[Imam al-Hadi (a)]] and [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]].<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Ḥayāt-i fikrī sīyāsī-yi Imāmān-i Shīʿa'', p. 472.</ref> The answer was from the [[Qur'an]] about the prophethood of [[Prophet Yahya (a)]] (John), where the Qur'an says: "And We gave him judgment while still a child",<ref>Qurān, 19:12.</ref> and speaking of the [[Prophet 'Isa (a)]] (Jesus) in the first days after birth<ref>Qurān, 19:30-32.</ref> Imam al-Jawad (a) answered to the issue by mentioning the successorship of [[Prophet Sulayman (a)]] (Solomon) after [[Prophet Dawud (a)]] (David) and said, "When Prophet Solomon (a) was still a little child and took the sheep out for grazing, Prophet David (a) made him his successor."<ref>See: Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 1, p. 383.</ref>  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, Imam al-Jawad (a) addressed [[Muhammad b. Sinan]] and rejected the claim of [[Mufawwida]] about leaving the creation and management of the world to the Prophet (a).{{cn}}

 

Some sources considered the title of "al-Jawad" (the generous) given to Imam (a) because to his great generosity and giving to people. According to a letter Imam al-Rida (a) sent to his son from [[Khorasan]], Imam al-Jawad (a) was known for his generosity since the first years of his life. When his father was in Khorasan, [[List of Companions of Imam al-Rida (a)|his companions]] sent out Jawad (a) from a side door of the house to meet less people who would gather at his door to receive charity. According to this report, Imam al-Rida (a) sent a letter to his son and advised him not to follow those who told him not to use the main door. In that letter, Imam al-Rida (a) advised his son, "whenever you want to go out of home, take some gold and silver with you. No one should ask you but you give them something." He (a) had also made special advice about his close relatives such as his uncles and aunts.{{cn}}

 

Al-Qurashi introduced Imam al-Jawad (a) the most ascetic and purest of the people of his time. He also spoke about the many [[nafila prayers]] Imam al-Jawad (a) performed. According to al-Qurashi, Imam al-Jawad (a) made a nafila prayer in every [[rak'a]] of which, he (a) recited each of the suras [[al-Fatiha]] and [[Sura al-Tawhid|al-Tawhid]] 70 times. Also, according to a hadith transmitted by [[al-Sayyid b. Tawus]], upon the coming of every new moon, Imam al-Jawad (a) performed two rak'as of prayer, in the first rak'a of which recited Sura al-Tawhid 30 times and in the second rak'a, he (a) recited [[Sura al-Qadr]] 30 times and after the prayer, he (a) give [[charity]].{{cn}}

 

About 250 [[hadith]]s are transmitted from Imam al-Jawad (a).<ref>ʿAṭārudī, ''Musnad al-Imām al-Jawād'', p. 249.</ref>  These hadiths are about topics in [[fiqh]], [[tafsir]], [[supplication]], and [[theology]]. The low number of hadiths transmitted from Imam al-Jawad (a) in comparison to hadiths of other Imams (a) is because of the surveillance over Imam al-Jawad (a) and also his young age at the time of martyrdom.{{cn}}

 

Imam al-Jawad (a) had several debates with fiqh scholars of the court of 'Abbasids. Historical reports suggest that some of these debates were made following the requests of the courtiers of al-Ma'mun and [[al-Mu'tasim]] who wanted to test Imam al-Jawad (a) and the result astonished those who were present in those sessions. 9 debates are reported, four of which were with [[Yahya b. Aktham]] and one of them was with [[Ahmad b. Abi Dawud]], the judge of all judges of Baghdad. Also, some of his conversations with [['Abd Allah b. Musa]], [[Abu Hashim al-Ja'fari]], [['Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani]] and al-Mu'tasim are reported. The topics of these conversation were issues in fiqh, about hajj, divorce, punishment for robbery and also theological issues such as the attributes of the [[companions of Imam al-Mahdi (a)]], merits of the two Caliphs and also the attributes of God.{{cn}}

In the debate, first Yahya mentioned a question about a [[muhrim]] (one who perform rituals of hajj) who hunts an animal. Then, Imam (a) explained different aspects of the issue and asked Yahya to define which aspect he meant. Yahya could not answer and the people there were surprised. Then, Imam (a) himself answered the question regarding different aspects. After hearing Imam's (a) complete answer, Abbasid scholars and courtiers admitted to his competence in [[fiqh]]. It is said that upon seeing this, al-Ma'mun said, "Praise to God that what I had thought happened."<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''al-Iḥtijāj'', vol. 2, p. 444; Nawbakhtī, ''Firaq, al-Shīʿa'', p. 88.</ref>  

== Companions ==

{{see also|List of Companions of Imam al-Jawad (a)}}

Many of his companions who were also among the companions of his [[Imam 'Ali b. Musa al-Rida (a)|father]] and his son ([[Imam al-Hadi (a)]]) had written works in fiqh and theology and were known as influential people in their own communities. Companions of Imam al-Jawad (a) and narrators of his hadiths were about 120 people who have narrated about 250 [[hadith]]s from him. These hadiths are about different subjects in [[fiqh]], [[exegesis]] and [[theology]]. The small number of hadiths narrated from Imam al-Jawad (a) is due to his surveillance and his young age at the time of martyrdom. Among his famous companions are [['Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani]], [[Ibrahim b. Hashim al-Qummi]], [['Ali b. Mahziyar]], [[Ahmad b. Abi Nasr al-Bazanti]], [[Zakariyya b. Adam]], [[Muhammad b. Isma'il b. Bazi']], [[al-Hasan b. Sa'id al-Ahwazi]] and [[Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Barqi]].

His companions and narrators of his hadiths were not exclusive to [[Shi'a]] and there were people from other sects including [[Sunni]] sects among them as well.<ref>ʿAṭārudī, ''Musnad al-Imām al-Jawād'', p. 314, 315, 262, 283, 319, 271.</ref>  

Through appointing agents in different parts of the Islamic world, Imam al-Jawad (a) was connected with Shi'as. Imam al-Jawad (a) had agents in in Islamic lands including [[Baghdad]], [[Kufa]], [[Ahvaz]], [[Basra]], [[Hamadan]], [[Qom]], [[Rey]], [[Sistan]], and Bost.<ref>Jāsim, ''Tārīkh-i sīyāsī-yi ghaybat-i Imām Dawāzdahum'', p. 79.</ref> The number of the deputies of Imam al-Jawad (a) is mentioned as 13. They took [[religious taxes]] of Shi'a and delivered them to Imam al-Jawad (a). [[Ibrahim b. Muhammad al-Hamadani]] in Hamadan and [[Abu 'Amr al-Hadhdha']] in [[Basra]] were deputies of Imam (a). [[Salih b. Muhammad b. Sahl]] managed donated properties in [[Qom]]. Also, [[Zakariyya b. Adam al-Qummi]], [['Abd al-'Aziz b. Muhtadi al-Ash'ari al-Qummi]], [[Safwan b. Yahya]], [[Ali b. Mahziyar]] and [[Yahya b. Abi 'Imran]] were among the deputies of Imam al-Jawad (a). Some authors referred to some evidences and mentioned [[Muhammad b. Faraj al-Rukhkhaji]] and [[Abu Hashim al-Ja'fari]] among his deputies as well. Also, [[Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Sayyari]] claimed deputyship of Imam al-Jawad (a), but Imam (a) rejected his claim and asked Shi'a not to give him religious taxes.{{cn}}

 

That he (a) was not connected with Shi'a directly and benefited from agents had some reasons, one was that Imam (a) was under serious surveillance and control of ruling government and another was that he (a) wanted to make preparations for the [[Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a)]].{{cn}}

Imam al-Jawad (a) met Shi'a and spoke with them during hajj. Some researchers believe that the journey of Imam al-Rida (a) to Khurasan made the relations of Shi'a with their Imams (a) develop. Thus, Shi'a from Khurasan, Rey, Bast and Sajistan went to visit Imam al-Jawad (a).{{cn}}

Imam al-Jawad (a) also wrote some letters to his agents in different cities such as Hamadan and Bost and also some Shi'as of Iran went to visit him in Medina. These visits are in addition to visits which took place during the days of hajj between Imam (a) and Shi'as.{{cn}}

== Virtues and Merits ==

Many merits and virtues are reported for Imam al-Jawad (a). His superiority in debates and scholarly discussions with scholars in his childhood is among these mentioned virtues. Some of the wonders narrated for him are as follows:

===Healing Blindness===

[[Qutb al-Din al-Rawandi]] narrated from Muhammad b. Miymun, "when Imam al-Jawad (a) was a child and Imam al-Rida (a) had not yet gone to Khorasan, he (a) had a journey to [[Mecca]] and I was with him. Upon his return, I told him, 'I want to go to Medina. Please write a letter to Abu Ja'far Muhammad al-Jawad (a) I take to him.' Imam (a) smiled and wrote a letter. I took the letter to Medina. That time I had become blind. Muwaffaq, the servant of Imam, brought Muhammad al-Jawad (a) while he (a) was in his cradle and I gave him the letter. Imam (a) asked Muwaffaq to unseal the letter and open it. Then he (a) asked, 'O Muhammad! How are your eyes?' I said, 'O son of the Prophet (a), my eyes have a disease and my eyesight is lost.' He (a) then touched my eyes and by the blessings of his hand, my eyes were healed. Then, I kissed his hands and feet and went out while I was not blind anymore."{{cn}}

Dawud b. al-Qasim said, "One day, I went with Imam al-Jawad (a) to a garden. I told him, 'May I be sacrificed for you! I am greedy to eat mud. Please make a du'a for me!' (so that I give up this habit). Imam (a) did not answer and some days later, he (a) told me, 'O Abu Hashim! God removed [the habit of] eating mud from you.'" Abu Hashim says that, "Since then, there was nothing I hated more than mud."{{cn}}

[[File:The Holy Shrine of al-Kazimayn.jpg|290px|thumbnail|right|An old photo of the [[Holy Shrine of al-Kazimayn (a)]]. Photo is taken by British Air Force in 1335/1917 during World War I.]]